"Letter from Freedman to his Old Master"
This is the state that the story takes place in, which was part of the Confederacy at the time of the Civil War
Tennessee
The state this story takes place in is also where the first Confederate Capital was located
Alabama
Being the grand niece of James Fenimore Cooper, this woman was also the author of “Rodman the Keeper.”
Constance Fenimore Wilson
This is the region of New York which was known for supporting the birth of Jazz and being densely populated by African Americans in the 1910's and 20's
Harlem
This is the name of Blanche's and Stella's childhood home, which they lost ownership of
Belle Reve
This is the single term that Jordan Anderson was willing to forgive his former master to any degree
Paying Jordan and his wife back for all their hard work
This is what happened to the main character at the end of the story
He is shot in the neck and passes away
This profession was Rodman’s job after the Civil War
A keeper or caretaker at a Union cemetery
Albeit unfortunate in every way, this is what happened to Clare Kendry at the end of the story
She fell out of a window and died on impact
This was the gruesome way in which Blanche's first husband died
Gunshot/Shot himself
This amendment was the one that freed the U.S. slaves in 1866
13th Amendment
This is the person that the main character sees in his vision, right before he realizes what the reality of his situation is
His Wife
Ward De Rosset, the name of the ill soldier Rodman interacts with throughout the story, was affiliated with this side during the Civil War
The Confederate side
This is the obvious problem with Clare and her husband’s relationship
She is passing as white, and her husband is a very strong racist while she very much isn’t
Mitch broke up with Blanche for this reason
Because she had been intimate with other men
Located in the North and being the only state with a non-rectangular flag, this is the state that Jourdon Anderson moved to after being freed
Ohio
This is the real identity of the passerby that the main character and his wife helped
A soldier from the North/ a Yankee
Rodman fought on this side in the Civil War
Union/North
This was the U.S. Supreme Court decision ruling that cemented the ‘seperate but equal’ doctrine, justifying most forms of segregation
Plessy v. Ferguson
Mitch was very desperate to marry for this reason
Because his mother wanted him to settle before her passing
This is the reason that Jourdon Anderson decided to send a letter to his former master in the first place
His former master wanted Jourdon and his wife to come back to the farm where they used to work when they were enslaved
This is the main character's profession, common for richer southern white men in the mid 19th century
A planter/slave owner/plantation owner
This is the main reason/theme for the author including the cemetery, and why Rodman and Ward’s interactions are important even though they fought on opposite sides when they were in the war
Reconciliation or Healing
This is what caused Irene to practically lose her mind a couple times in the story, such as the scene in which she drops her pot of tea at the tea party
Irene’s husband seems to grow an obvious affection for Clare / Irene feels like her husband has lost affection for her
This is the hotel that Blanche was kicked out of before going to stay with Stella
The Flamingo